Automatic system for controlling the temperature of a series of glass molds

ABSTRACT

A system for automatically sensing and controlling the temperature of each of a plurality of molds to within a desired temperature range therefor, each such mold having a cooling fluid control valve associated therewith and each mold being intermittently positioned at a station where each respective valve is adjusted in accordance with an adjustment signal produced by comparing a signal representing the sensed temperature of the respective mold and a set point signal representing the desired temperature for such mold. Valve adjustment signals are also stored and, upon each next arrival of each respective mold at said station, the stored adjustment signal associated with such mold is read out and employed for preliminarily controlling the valve adjustment apparatus to its condition to which it was controlled during the immediately preceding valve adjustment for the respective mold.

[72] Inventor Joseph ll. Jones Corning, N.Y. [2]] Appl. No. 823,578 [22]Filed May 12, I969 [45] Patented Oct. 26, 1971 [73] Assignee CorningGlass Worlrs Corning, N .Y.

[54] AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING Til-IE TEMPERATURE OF A SERIES 01FGLASS MOLDS 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. Cl 65/1611, 65/162, 65/319 [51] Int. Cl C03b 11/00 [50] Fieldoi Search 65/161, 162, 319

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,967 l/l963 Mouly65/ll62 3,129,087 4/1964 Hagy 65/162 3,372,017 3/1968 Pitbladdo 65/1623,407,055 10/1968 Argyle 65/161 Primary Examiner-Arthur D. KelloggAttorneys-Clarence R. Patty, Jr. and Charles W. Gregg ABSTRACT: A systemfor automatically sensing and controlling the temperature of each of aplurality of molds to within a desired temperature range therefor, eachsuch mold having a cooling fluid control valve associated therewith andeach mold being intermittently positioned at a station where eachrespective valve is adjusted in accordance with an adjustment signalproduced by comparing a signal representing the sensed temperature ofthe respective mold and a set point signal representing the desiredtemperature for such mold. Valve adjustment signals are also stored and,upon each next arrival of each respective mold at said station, thestored adjustment signal associated with such mold is read out andemployed for preliminarily controlling the valve adjustment apparatus toits condition to which it was controlled during the immediatelypreceding valve adjustment for the respective mold.

|| 26 AIR SUPPLY @[PEI W AIR SUPPLY PATENTEDnm 26 I97! AIR SUPPLY Fig.2Fig.3

PYRO METER 7- AIR SUPPLY RI INVENTOR. 7 B Joseph R. Jones AGENT Tie AIRa I,

SUPPLY AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE 01F A SERIES OFGLASS MOLIDS The invention of the present application relates to amodification of or an improvement in the invention disclosed and claimedin copending application Ser. No. 832,320 of Daniel R. Ayers. Therefore,no claim is made in the present application to the common subject matterdisclosed in both the present application and said copendingapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed in Letters Patent of theUnited States, US. Pat. No. 3,071,967, issued Jan. 8,1963 to R. J.Mouly, a temperature measuring system useful in measuring andcontrolling the temperature of molds in which articles are formed from aheated or molten material. FIG. 12 of such patent illustrates anautomatic control system for adjusting the temperature of each of aplurality of molds, such as those mentioned, in accordance with themeasured or sensed temperature of a single one of said plurality ofmolds. The description of the operation of the control systemillustrated in said FIG. 12 is covered in lines 17 through 49 of column17 of said patent.

It has recently been recognized that the temperature of each of aplurality of molds being used to form similar articles from a heated ormolten material should not necessarily be the same temperature as any ofthe other molds of such plurality in order to produce ware or articleshaving similar characteristics such as shape and dimensions.Furthermore, each said mold may have cooling characteristics differingfrom those of the other molds of the plurality thereof and, therefore,require a different amount of cooling fluid to besupplied thereto inorder to maintain it within its optimum temperature range for the wareor articles to be formed. It is, therefore, apparent that automaticallycontrolling the supply of cooling fluid to all of a plurality of moldsin accordance with the sensing of the temperature of a single mold ofsuch plurality as in the aforecited Mouly patent does not provide a typeof automatic control system that is the most desirable possible.

In view of the above, there was developed an automatic control systemfor controlling the temperature of each of a plurality of molds inaccordance with the article-forming and cooling characteristics of eachrespective mold and the sensed temperature of each such mold followingeach forming operation performed thereby. Such system is disclosed incopending patent application Ser. No. 778,280, filed Nov. 22, 1968 ByRaymond J. Mouly and Robert L. Thomas, such application being assignedto the same assignee as the present application. In the system of suchcopending application there is provided apparatus including a memorystoring a set point signal representing a predetermined desiredtemperature for each mold of a plurality of molds used for formingarticles or ware from a heated or molten material, a device such as apyrometer for sensing the temperature of each of said plurality of moldsas the respective mold is intermittently positioned at a selectedlocation and for producing signals representative of the sensedtemperatures, identification means for producing discrete signalsrepresenting or identifying each respective mold and supplying thesignals for manipulating the sensed and set point signals for eachrespective mold and producing adjustment signals representative of anyadjustment required in the amount of cooling fluid supplied to therespective mold, and a servosystem responsive to each adjustment signalfor ad justing a single valve located at said selected location to varythe supply of cooling fluid to the respective mold associated with therespective mold associated with the respective adjustment signal. Suchsingle valve is located at said selected location which may be termed acooling station and the cooling fluid is supplied to each said mold onlyat such cooling station.

Such a system as disclosed in said copending patent application of Moulyet a1. is not satisfactory for all glass forming operations since it isoftentimes desirable to provide cooling fluid to each of a series ofmolds during selected parts of or during the entire periods of movementof such molds through a plurality of stations such as mold chargingstations, pressing stations, article takeout stations, etc. There isshown, for example, in Letters Patent of the United States US. Pat. No.3,138,241 issued June 23, 1964 to Frederick A. Dahlman a glass pressmold turret or machine in which a plurality of mold holders or adaptersare provided adjacent the outer periphery of the table of a turret-typeglass pressing machine with each such holder or adapter supporting aglass forming mold whose bottom surface is disposed above a hole oropening in the respective mold adapter. Mold cooling pressurizedaeriform fluid is supplied from a suitable fluid manifold, or passagesor chambers embodied in a pressing machine of the type mentioned andthen flows into a hollow in each said adapter or holder, such fluid thenflowing through each such hollow and out through an opening or hole inthe top of the respective mold holder or adapter to impinge against thebottom surface of the respective mold supported above such hole oropening for cooling of each such mold. Mold holders or adapters andturret-type glass pressing machines, such as that mentioned, are wellknown in the art.

In copending patent application, Ser. No. 672,098, now abandoned filedOct. 2, 1967 by Daniel R. Ayers and Darrell E. Chapin and assigned tothe same assignee as the present application, there is disclosed apressurized aeriform fluid flow control valve having a first portion ofthe general configuration of an inverted frustum of a cone with anopening in the base thereof leading to a cavity therein, and a secondportion of a general configuration of a hollow cylinder extending fromthe end of said first portion opposite said base, such valve havingadjustable fluid flow control slots extending through the sidewall ofsaid first portion and leading to said cavity therein. In use, the valveis disposed with said opening therein adjacent the bottom surface of aglass pressing or similar mold and the remainder of the valve extendsdownwardly through a suitable mold holder adapter embodying a hollowthrough which is supplied, about the outer surface of said first portionof the valve, pressurized fluid for cooling of said mold, the valvebeing rotatably adjustable to variably control the volume of flow of thecooling fluid from said hollow to said bottom surface of said mold.Valves such as that just described are, as mentioned in said copendingapplication of Daniel R. Ayers et al., readily adaptable for use in aglass press mold turret such as disclosed in said patent to Frederick A.Dahlman.

The object of the present invention is to provide a control system,similar to that of the aforecited copending application of Raymond J.Mouly et al., but in which a series of valves, such as disclosed in thecited copending application of Daniel R. Ayers et al., are mounted on amold turret such as shown in the cited Dahlman patent. Said valves maybe rapidly adjusted to vary the supply of cooling fluid to molds carriedon said turret, there being one of said valves associated with each suchmold.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accomplishing the above object of theinvention there is provided a single valve actuating apparatus which isassociated with all of a plurality or series of cooling fluid controlvalves carried on a turret of a type similar to that heretoforementioned. Such apparatus is located at a suitable location adjacent thepath of rotation of the turret rather than being carried on the turretfor controlling the valves mounted thereon. Means are included foridentifying each mold indexed to said location and adjusting eachrespective valve, when necessary, in accordance with each suchidentification.

Other objects and characteristic features of the invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWlNGS The invention will best be understoodwith reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the sensing and control systemembodying the invention and illustrates the identification of one moldof a plurality thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a mold identification arrangement foranother mold of said plurality thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating the ar rangement foridentifying a third mold of said plurality of molds.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of thefigures of the drawings.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings indetail, there is shown in FIG. 1 an indexing or intermittentlypositioned press table II which carries a plurality of molds such aswhich are successively and intermittently moved or indexed through aplurality of stations or positions including a mold charging station, aforming station, and an article takeout station. Table 11 may, forexample, be the rotating table of a turret type glass-forming machinesuch as shown in the aforesaid Dahlman patent or as in FIG. 12 of theaforesaid patent to Mouly. If a brief reference is made to said FIG. 12of the Mouly patent, the similarity between the apparatus, includingtable II and molds 10, to that shown in said FIG. 12 will be readilyapparent.

A cooling fluid control valve such as 16 is provided in a mold holder oradapter such as 19 embodying a hollow 13 to which is connected asuitable supply of cooling fluid, such as compressed air for example.Mold holder or adapter 19 is positioned in table 11 below mold 10 andsaid cooling fluid may, for example, be supplied to hollow 13 in adapter19 in the manner disclosed in the aforesaid Dahlman patent. Controlvalve 16, may, for example, be a modification of a valve such as 16shown in FIG. 2 of the aforesaid patent application of Ayers et al. Theamount of cooling fluid which is supplied to mold 10 is adjusted orvaried by rotative actuation of a disklike clutch contacting member suchas 46 provided on the lower end of valve 16. Such actuation of member 46will be discussed in detail hereinafter in an operational example of theinvention. It is expedient to point, however, that each of the moldssuch as 10 carried by mold table or turret 1 1 is provided with a moldcooling arrangement, including a mold adapter such as 19 and a controlvalve such as 16, similar to that illustrated for mold 10 located at thetemperature sensing station in FIG. 1.

A temperature sensing device 21 is provided at the temperature sensingstation as sown in FIG. 1 and such device may, for example, be aradiation pyrometer of any standard make. Pyrometer 21 detects thetemperature of each mold indexed to or positioned at the temperaturesensing position or station and provides a discrete output signalrepresentative of each such temperature. Each such output signal issupplied as an input to apparatus hereinafter discussed.

As is obvious, press table 11 may carry any practicable number of moldsbut for purposes of simplification of the description of the apparatus,it will be assumed that press table 11 carries only four molds such as10. Such table is intermittently moved or indexed between a series ofstations or positions, such positions including a mold chargingposition, a press forming position, an article or ware takeout position,and a temperature sensing position where pyrometer 21 is located tosense the temperature of each mold stationed at such positions.

A discrete binary code is employed to identify each mold positioned atthe temperature sensing position and, since it is assumed for discussionpurposes that table 11 carries only four molds such as 10, a 2-bitbinary code is sufficient to identify the four molds as discussedhereinafter.

There is illustrated at the top of FIG. 1 a section of press table 11having tabs 26 and 27 extending outwardly from the outer periphery ofthe table adjacent the top and bottom surfaces of the table,respectively. There is also shown a pair of generally U-shaped tabdetection devices which are designated PEI and PE2 and are mounted oneabove the other near the outer periphery of press table 11. Detectiondevices PEI and PE2 are pneumatically controlled devices and each may,for example, be a so-called pneumatic eye such as the Moore PneumaticEye, Part 09700-10, which is manufactured and sold by Moore ProductsCompany, Philadelphia, Penna. The input ports of pneumatic eyes PEI andPE2 are connected to a suitable source of compressed air supply and theoutput ports of such eyes are connected to the input ports of pressureswitches PS1 and PS2, respectively. Pressure switches PS1, and PS2 may,for example, each be a switch such as Model or Part No. 4414-12 alsomanufactured by the above-named company.

Pneumatic eyes such as PEI and PE2, and the pressure switches such asPS1 and PS2 are components of a well-known type whose modes of operationare also well known. However, for the purpose of making the descriptioncomplete it is pointed out that switch PS1 actuates movable electriccircuit controlling contacts 31, 94, 98, 103 and 105 which are closedagainst fixed contact points 32, 93, 96, 102 and 107, respectively, whenthe channel or airgap in pneumatic eye PEI is clear, that is, notoccupied by an object such as tab 26. However, when such channel orairgap is occupied as by a tab such as 26, switch PS1 is actuated toclose movable contacts 31, 94, 98, 103 and 105 against fixed contactpoints 33, 95, 97, I04 and 106, respectively, as shown in the drawing.Similarly switch PS2 actuates movable electric circuit controllingcontacts 35, 39, and 99 which are closed against fixed contact points36, 40, 92 and respectively, or fixed contact points 37, 41, 91 and 101,respectively, accordingly as the channel or airgap in pneumatic eye PE2is clear or occupied, respectively. When, therefore, the channel orairgap in pneumatic eye PE2 is occupied as by a tab such as 27, switchPS2 is actuated to close movable contacts 35, 39, 90 and 99 againstfixed contact points 37, 41, 91 and 101, respectively, as shown in thedrawings.

There is also shown in FIG. I a contact TDCA which has a movable contactportion 43 and a fixed contact point 44, and a contact TDCB having amovable contact portion 108 and fixed contact points 109 and 110. Suchcontacts are contacts on the conventional timing drum such as is usuallyemployed to control the sequence of operations of glass formingmachinery and which is used to control the. sequence of movement oftable 11 through its different dwell positions. Contacts TDCA and TDCBare actuated to close electrical circuits, in a predetermined sequencehereinafter discussed, following the arrival of each mold such as 10 atthe temperature sensing location.

It is expedient to here point out that a source of electrical current ofsuitable voltage and capacity is provided for energization of theelectrical apparatus employed but such source is not shown in thedrawings for purposes of simplification thereof. However, the positiveand negative terminals of said current source are designated B and N,respectively.

A pair of relays R1 and R2 are provided as shown in FIG. I, relay R1being a conventional-type relay whose movable contacts are actuated toclose electrical circuits immediately subsequent to energization of thecontrol winding of the relay. Relay R2 is a slow acting relay whosemovable contacts are actuated to close electrical circuits only after apredetermined time delay following the energization of the controlwinding of the relay. Such slow acting relays are well known in the art.

Relay R1 has an energizing circuit which extends from terminal B of thepreviously mentioned current source, over previously mentioned contactmembers 43 and 44 of timing drum contact TDCA and thence through thecontrol winding of the relay R1 to terminal N of said current source.Relay R2 has an energizing circuit which extends from said terminal B ofthe current source over movable contact 7 of relay R1, fixed contactpoint 8 of such relay and thence through the control winding of relay R2to said terminal N of the current source. It is thus apparent that themovable contacts of relay R1 are actuated just subsequent to theactuation of said timing drum contact TDCA, and the movable contacts ofrelay R2 are actuated at a point somewhat later in time following theactuation of said contact TDCA.

Each of the previously mentioned four molds such as 10 carried by presstable 11 is assigned one of the four discrete binary code identificationsignals 00, 01, 10 and l 1 as also previously mentioned. The mold suchas 10 shown stationed or positioned at the temperature sensing stationin FIG. 1 is assigned the binary code 11. At such time, tabs 26 and 27are, as shown at the top of FIG. 1, occupying the airgaps or channels ofpneumatic eyes P131 and PE2 and, therefore, an electric circuit to anadjustable resistor 641 is prepared for purposes hereinafter furtherdiscussed.

There is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, sections of mold table 11 havingextending upper and lower tabs 410 and 17, respectively. Such tabs serveto identify second and third ones of the molds 10 which are assigned thebinary codes 10 and 01, respectively. When the fourth mold is positionedor stationed at the mold cooling station, no tabs are located so as tooccupy the channels or airgaps of pneumatic eyes PE1 and PE2, and acircuit is prepared to an adjustable resistor 61. Movable contacts 31and 35 of switches PS1 and PS2 are, of course, closed against fixedcontact points 32 and 36 whenever the molds such as 10 are being indexedor moved between the stations mentioned, but electrical energy does notflow through said resistor 61 at such time. This will be also furtherdiscussed hereinafter.

When press table 11 moves so that the mold l identified by binary code10 (one-zero) is at the cooling station, tab 40 will occupy the airgapof pneumatic eye PEI and an electric circuit through an adjustableresistor 63 will be prepared. Similarly, when table 11 moves so that themold 10 identified by binary code 01 is at the cooling station, tab 17will occupy the airgap of pneumatic eye P52 and an electric circuitthrough an adjustable resistor 62 will be prepared. This will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the switching circuit art.

Four signal storage amplifiers SAl, A2, 8A3 and SA4l are provided andare respectively associated with the molds such as 11 identified by thebinary codes 00, O1, and 1 1, respectively. Signal storage amplifierssuch as SA1 through 8A4 are well known and each such amplifier iscapable of storing an electrical signal supplied thereto as hereinafterdiscussed. Each such amplifier may, for example, be a Bruce 0932 Sampleand Hold Amplifier which is sold by Bruce Industrial Con trol Company,Jamison, Penna. The operation of the amplifiers will be readily apparentto those skilled in the switching circuit art.

The adjustable resistors 61 through 6 1 mentioned above are employed forproviding set point signals representing a desired temperature for eachindividual mold. Such resistors are manually adjustable and, therefore,the set point signals can be adjusted or vairied when found to benecessary. Each such set point signal from said resistors isindividually supplied to a conductor 67 to be later compared with sensedtemperature signals from pyrometer 21 as discussed in detailhereinafter.

The output or sensed signals from pyrometer 21, and representing thesensed temperatures of molds such as 10 positioned at the temperaturesensing position or station, are supplied through a suitable amplifiersuch as 9 to a conventional electrical recorder 56 of the type whichincludes a retransmitting slide wire. The slide wire of recorder 56supplies to a conductor 60 a signal representing the temperature sensedby pyrometer 21 when a mold is present at the temperature sensingstation or position. Such sensed signal is supplied over conductor 68 toa first input terminal of a controller 57. Conductor 68 also connects toa conductor 75 which has multiple connections to amplifiers SAll through8A4 as shown in the drawings.

A second input terminal of controller 57 connects to movable contact 53of relay R2 and, when such contact is closed against fixed contact point55 of such relay and timing drum contact member 100 of contact TDCB isclosed against fixed contact point 109, said second input terminal ofcontroller 57 is connected over said contact point 55 and contactmembers 108 and 109 of contact TDCB to movable contact member 90 ofswitch PS2, and thence through contact members of switches PS1 and PS2to a respectively identified one of the amplifiers 5A1 through SA l.

When relay R2 actuates its movable contact members 50 and 53 followingthe energization of the relay, each preset signal supplied to previouslymentioned conductor 67 from one of said adjustable resistors 61 through64! is further supplied over said movable contact 50 to fixed contactpoint 51 of relay R2, and thence over fixed contact point 541 andmovable contact member 53 of relay R2 to said second input terminal ofcontroller 57. Each said preset signal is, at such time, also suppliedover fixed contact member 51 of relay R2 to a conductor M and thencethrough contacts of switches PS1 and PS2 to a respectively identifiedone of the amplifiers 5A1 through SA l. Controllers such as .57 are wellknown and such controller may, for example, be a Series 840R controllersuch as may be obtained from Taylor Instruments Company, Rochester, NY.14601. Controller 57 compares the associated sensed and preset signalsto produce resultant signals representative of any differences betweenthe associated sensed temperature signals and preset temperaturesignals.

The output or adjustment signals from controller 57 are supplied asinputs to an electropneumatic transducer 58 which, in turn, producespneumatic output signals proportional to the input or adjustment signalssupplied thereto and representative of adjustments or correctionsnecessary in the valves such as 16 for supplying the correct amount ofcooling air or fluid to the molds such as 10. Transducers such as 50 arealso well known and such transducer may, for example, be a Type 5462Transducer such as may be obtained from Fisher Governor Company,Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158.

The pnuematic signals from transducer 50 are supplied, through asuitable conduit or pipe 01, to a valve actuator '76 which may, forexample, be a Type 480 Actuator also obtainable from the above mentionedFisher Governor Company and which integrally includes a Type 3570positioner and a fluid cylinder 76a including an associated piston 76band piston rod 760. Actuators such as 76 are well known in the art.

It is expedient to point out at this point in the description that, whenrelay R2 is not energized and contact TDCB is not actuated, that is,when movable contact members 53 and 108 are closed against fixed contactpoints 55 and 110, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1, the input circuitsto controller 57 are short circuited or connected with each other. Undersuch conditions the signal supplied from controller 57 to transducer 50is such as to actuate the transducer to supply to actuator 76 a signalhaving a value that causes the piston 76b of the actuator to occupy agenerally midway position within the bore of cylinder 76a as shown inFIG. I. When, however, contact TDCB is actuated and, therefore, movablecontact member is closed against fixed contact point 109 under suchconditions, the second input to controller 57 is connected over members108-109 of contact TDCB to one of the amplifiers SA1 through SA4l. Atsuch time, the signal supplied from controller 57 to transducer 58 issuch as to actuate the transducer to supply to actuator 76 a signalhaving a value corresponding to that read out of the respectfullyidentified amplifier SAl through 8A4. This causes piston 76b of theactuator to occupy a position within the bore of cylinder 76acorresponding to said readout signal. The purpose of such arrangementwill be further discussed hereinafter in an operational example of theinvention.

It is also pointed out that when, as previously mentioned, table 11 and,therefore, molds 10, are being indexed between the various positions ofsuch table and molds, movable contacts 31 and 35 of switches PS1 and PS2are closed against fixed contact points 32 and 36, respectively, but noelectric current flows through resistor 61 at such time because the circuit from conductor 67 to controller 57 is open at contacts 50 and 51,and 53 and 54 of relay R2.

There is also shown in FIG. 1, a pressurized fluid cylinder 77 ofaconventional type including a piston 77b and a piston rod 770. Asolenoid actuated pressurized fluid flow control valve 71 is also shownand the solenoid winding 71a of valve 71 is provided with an energizingcircuit which extends from terminal B of the current source, over amovable contact 69 and fixed contact point 70 of relay R1 when suchrelay is energized and thence through said winding 71a to terminal N ofthe current source. Valve 71 is normally in a position in which itsupplies pressurized fluid such as compressed air over conduit 79 to oneend of cylinder 77 to cause the piston 77b and the piston rod 770 ofsuch cylinder to be retracted therewithin. At such time the other end ofsuch cylinder is connected over a conduit 78 to valve 71 and throughsuch valve to atmosphere or a suitable fluid sink 72. When solenoidwinding 71a is energized, valve 71 is actuated to reverse theconnections to conduits 78 and 79 and, thence to cylinder 77, to therebyactuate piston 77b and piston rod 77c of such cylinder to their extendedpositions. Upon subsequent deenergization of winding 71a, coil spring71b of valve 71 reactuates the valve to its normal position shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings. Valves such as 71 are well known and the purposeof such valve and of cylinder 77 will be readily understood inconnection with the operational example of the invention hereinafter setforth.

The otherwise free end of piston rod 760 of cylinder 76a has attachedthereto a rack gear 83 whose teeth mesh with cooperative teeth providedabout the outer periphery of a spline gear 84. Spline 84 is rotatablymounted on the otherwise free end of piston rod 770 of cylinder 77 andthere is affixed to the upper end of spline 84 a clutch 86 which may,for example, be a friction or a magnetic clutch of any type suitable forengaging, in a rotational driving relationship therewith, the previouslymentioned disklike member 46 affixed to the lower end of valve 16. It isthus apparent that clutch 86 is actuated in an upper direction to engagemember 46 whenever piston 77b and piston rod 77c of cylinder 77 areactuated upwardly by supplying pressurized fluid such as compressed airover conduit 78 to the lower end of cylinder 77. Such operation willalso be hereinafter further discussed in the operational example whichfollows.

It will first be assumed that a mold such as having the binary codeidentification l l is indexed to the temperature sensing position orstation below pyrometer 21 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and that the valve16 associated with such mold is fully open at such time because maximumcooling fluid was previously being supplied to mold 10. The apparatusincluding spline 84 and its associated clutch 86, cylinder 77 and itsassociated piston 77b and piston rod 770, and cylinder 76a and itsassociated piston 76b and piston rod 760 are, at such time, in theirpositions shown in FIG. 1.

Under the above assumed conditions, when the mold such as 10 (binarycode 11) arrives at the sensing station switches PS1 and PS2 are firstactuated and, immediately subsequent thereto, the previously mentionedtiming drum actuates contact TDCB to open its contact members 108-110and close its contact members 108-109 to complete a signal readoutcircuit from amplifier SA4 to controller 57. Such circuit extends fromamplifier SA4 over contacts 97-98 of switch PS1, contacts 91-90 ofswitch PS2, said contact members 108-109 of contact TDCB and thence overcontacts 55-53 of relay R2 to the previously mentioned second inputterminal of controller 57. Such circuit further extends from the firstinput terminal of controller 57 over conductor 75 to the common multipleconnections to amplifiers SAl through SA4 and, specifically, toamplifier SA4. The signal stored in such amplifier at such tine is thusread out and supplied to controller 57 which in turn supplies acorresponding signal to transducer 58 to control such transducer tosupply a corresponding pneumatic signal to actuator 76. Actuator 76, inturn, causes piston 76b in cylinder 76a to preliminarily adjust rack 83and spline 84, that is, to move rack 83 and, thereby spline 84 topositions such components occupied following the immediately precedingadjustment of the valve 16 associated with the identified mold 10 (seebinary code 11). Immediately following such actuations, contact TDCA isactuated closed by the aforementioned timing drum and relay R1 isenergized over contact members 43-44 of such timing drum contact. Theenergization of relay R1 closes at contacts 69-70 of such relay theenergization circuit to solenoid winding 71a and valve 71 is actuated tosupply pressurized fluid or compressed air to cylinder 77 to actuateclutch 86 into contact with member 46 on the lower end of valve 16.

Also, under the previously assumed conditions, when the mold such as 10(binary code 11) arrives at the sensing station, an electrical circuitthrough contacts 31-33 of switch PS1 and 39-41 of switch PS2, andfurther extending through adjustable resistor 64 to conductor 67 andthence to controller 57, is prepared. Upon the subsequent actuation ofcontacts 50 and 53 of relay R2 against fixed contact points 51 and 54,respectively, of such relay, a preset signal is supplied from resistor64 as an input to controller 57. The previously discussed circuit overcontact point 55 of relay R2 is also interrupted at this time. Pyrometer21 senses the temperature of the mold 10 then at the temperature sensingstation and supplies through amplifier 9 to recorder 56 a signalrepresentative of the sensed temperature of such mold 10. The slide wireof recorder 56, in turn, supplies to conductor 68 a signal alsorepresentative of said sensed temperature. The signal supplied from theslide wire of recorder 56 to conductor 68 is supplied as a second inputto controller 57 and is also supplied over conductor to the multipleconnections to amplifiers SAl through SA4. The above mentioned signalfrom conductor 67 is also supplied over contacts 50-51 of relay R2 toconductor 74 and thence over contacts 99-101 of switch PS2 and contacts-106 of switch PS1 to amplifier SA4. Such signals are algebraicallysummed and amplifier SA4 stores an adjustment signal corresponding tothat supplied from controller 57 to transducer 58 in response to thepreset and sensed signals for mold l0 (binary code 11) supplied to suchcontroller.

The sensed and preset temperature signals, supplied as inputs tocontroller 57 as discussed above, are compared and such controllerproduces a resultant output signal which is representative of anydifference in the desired temperature for mold 10 (the preset signal)and the sensed temperature for such mold. Such resultant output signalis supplied to transducer 58 which again produces a pneumatic outputsignal proportionate to the electrical input signal supplied thereto andrepresentative of a correction needed in the adjustment of valve 16 tobring mold 10 to the desired temperature. For purposes of the presentexample it will be assumed that mold 10 is too cold, that is, that thepneumatic signal from transducer 58 indicates that valve 16 must be atleast partially closed so that less cooling air is supplied to mold 10.

Under the above assumed conditions, the pneumatic signal supplied toactuator 76 over conduit 81 from transducer 58 causes piston 76b and,thereby, piston rod 766 of actuator 76 to move rack 83 to rotate spline84 and cause clutch 86 to rotate member 46 a distance representative ofthe value of the pneumatic correction signal supplied to actuator 76.Such rotation of clutch 86 and, thereby, member 46 actuates valve 16 toclose a preselected amount to reduce the cooling fluid supplied to mold10 during the next complete rotation of table Shortly prior to the endof the period of dwell for mold 10 at the temperature sensing station,contact TDCA of the timing drum opens, thereby deenergizing relay R1which, in turn, deenergizes slow acting relay R2. Just prior to the endof said dwell period relay R2 releases to actuate its movable contacts50 and 53 from engagement with fixed contacts 51 and 54, respectively,and movable contact 53 into engagement with fixed contact 55. Thedeenergization of relay R1 mentioned above actuates movable contact 69of such relay from engagement with fixed contact 70 of the relay and theenergizing circuit for solenoid winding 71a of valve 71 is opened.Spring 71b actuates valve 71 to its normal position shown in FIG. 1 andconduits 79 and 78 are connected to the air supply, and to atmosphere orsink 72, respectively. The compressed air or other pressurized fluidthereby supplied to conduit 79 reactuates piston 77b and piston rod 770downwardly in cylinder 77, and clutch 86 is, thereby, moved from itsengagement with the bottom of member 46 on the lower end of valve 16.

Subsequent to the above described actuations or movement of clutch $6from engagement with member 416, movable contact 53 of relay R2 closesagainst fixed contact 55 of such relay, contact member 108 of contactTDCB closes against fixed contact point M0, and the input terminals ofcontroller 57 are again short circuited as shown in FIG. 1. Such shortcircuits, as previously mentioned, causes a signal to be supplied totransducer 58 which actuates such transducer to supply a pneumaticsignal to actuator 76 which causes piston 76b in cylinder 76a to returnto its generally midway position within the bore of cylinder 76a. Theapparatus is now back to its normal condition.

Upon the next positioning or arrival of mold l (binary code 1 l) to thetemperature sensing position, the valve adjustment signal stored inamplifier 8A4 and having a value representative of the immediatelypervious adjustment of valve 116 is read out of such amplifier and issupplied to controller 57 to cause such controller to supply acorresponding valve adjustment signal to transducer Such adjustmentsignal actuates transducer 58 to supply a corresponding pneumatic signalto actuator 76 and, thereby, again preliminarily actuate rack $3 andspline M to the positions to which they were actuated upon theimmediately previous adjustment of valve 16.

It will be assumed that, upon said next positioning or arrival of moldll) at the temperature sensing station, pyrometer 21l detects that suchmold is at a temperature in excess of the desired temperature thereforas represented by the setting of adjustable resistor 64L When relay R2is actuated to close its movable contacts 50 and 53 against contactpoints 511 and 54, respectively, the preset signal from resistor 64 isagain supplied to controller 57 and to signal storage amplifier SA l.Such preset signal is compared with the sensed signal then supplied fromthe slide wire of recorder 56 and corresponding valve adjustment signalsare supplied to amplifier SA4l, for storage therein and to transducer 5%for actuation thereof. Under such conditions the pneumatic signal thensupplied by transducer 5% to actuator 76 is of a value representative ofan adjustment necessary in valve 116 to open such valve a preselectedamount to lower the temperature of mold 110 towards the desiredtemperature therefore as represented by the preset signal supplied fromresistor M.

In view of the above discussion, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, when the sensed signal for mold from pyrometer 21 agreeswith the preset signal from resistor 64 for such mold, rack $3 andspline 84 are preliminarily adjusted as before. However, the electricaladjustment signals supplied to transducer 58, and to storage amplifierSA E are of a value such that the pneumatic signal supplied fromtransducer 58 to actuator 76 under such conditions is of a value suchthat no adjustment of valve 16 occurs. Thus, mold 10 will receive thesame amount of cooling fluid or air during the next revolution of table11 as it did during the previous revolution.

In the light of the above discussion it will be apparent that each moldsuch as 10 indexed to the temperature sensing station will be identifiedby a discrete binary code which will cause temperature preset signal,representing the desired temperature for the respective mold, to becompared with the actual temperature of such mold sensed at saidstation, to thereby produce a resultant adjustment or correction signalrepresentative of adjustment necessary in the amount of cooling air tobe supplied to the respective mold to bring it to the desiredtemperature therefor as represented by said preset signal. Eachrespective adjustment signal so produced is stored in an associated oneof the storage amplifiers SAll through 8A4, and is also supplied tocontrol apparatus located at the temperature sensing station to actuatesuch control apparatus to adjust the respective cooling air controlvalve associated with each respective mold for which each respectiveadjustment signal is produced, such adjustment of each said valveregulating the cooling air supplied to the respective mold during thenext revolution of table 11 so that such respective mold, on its nextarrival at said temperature sensing station, will have beensubstantially cooled to the desired temperature therefor as representedby said preset signal for the respective mold. Each adjustment signalstored in one of said storage amplifiers is read out to preliminarilyactuate said control apparatus to the positions to which such apparatuswas actuated in response to the immediately prior adjustment signalassociated with each respective mold. If found or considered desirableto do so, a selected amount of each signal stored in each storageamplifier may be allowed to leak out of such storage between successivestorage of signals in the respective amplifier. Such modification causesthe respective valve associated with the mold with which each respectivestorage amplifier is associated to be preliminarily adjusted, by theremaining stored portion of the respective stored signal, proportionallyto the deviation from the associated preset signal. Proportional controlaction rather than reset control action is thereby provided.

lclaim:

1. In a glass forming apparatus in which each of a plurality of moldscarried on a rotatable table or turret are successively andintermittently positioned by said turret at each of a plurality ofstations including a mold temperature sensing station located along thepath of rotation of the turret, a mold temperature control systemcomprising;

A. an adjustable valve associated with each said mold for controlling anamount of cooling air supplied to the respectively associated mold,

B. means for providing preset signal representative of the desiredtemperature for each said mold,

C. means at said temperature sensing station for providing a signalrepresenting the actual temperature of each said mold positioned at suchstation,

D. means for identifying each said mold positioned at said temperaturesensing station .and selecting said preset signal for each such mold,

E. means receiving said preset and sensed signals for each said mold andcomparing such signals to produce a resultant adjustment signalrepresentative of adjustment necessary in said valve associated with therespective mold to bring the temperature of such mold into agreementwith the desired temperature for that mold,

F. means associated with each said mold and controlled by said moldidentifying means for receiving and storing the adjustment signalproduced for each respective mold,

G. means at said sensing station and controlled by each said adjustmentsignal for adjusting the respective value as sociated with therespective mold for which each respective adjustment signal is produced,

H. means actuated by said mold identifying means, in a time relationshipwith the arrival of each respective mold at said sensing station, forreading out the stored adjustment signal associated with the respectivemold and supplying such readout signal to said valve adjusting means forpreliminary actuation thereof to substantially the position which suchadjusting means were controlled by the im-.

mediately prior adjustment signal for the respective mold, and

l. means actuated, in a time relationship with the arrival of eachrespective mold at said sensing station, for supplying the adjustmentsignal then produced to said storage means associated with therespective mold for storage of such signal and to said valve adjustingmeans for adjusting the valve associated with such mold in accordancewith the value of such adjustment signal.

2. A control system in accordance with claim l and in which said moldidentifying means employs a discrete binary code associated with eachsaid mold.

3. In combination with a machine for forming articles from heated ormolten material and which intermittently positions each of a pluralityof article forming molds at a plurality of stations including materialcharging, article forming, article takeout and mold temperature sensingstations, a mold temperature control system comprising;

A. individual adjustable means associated with each said mold forsupplying cooling fluid to the respectively associated mold,

B. means for sensing the temperature of each said mold positioned atsaid temperature sensing station and producing signals representative ofeach respective mold temperature,

C. means for producing identification signals for each respective moldarriving at said temperature sensing station,

D. means responsive to said identification signals for producing presetsignals representative of a desired temperature for each respectivemold,

E. means receiving and responsive to the sensed preset signals for eachrespective mold positioned at said temperature sensing station toproduce an adjustment signal having a value representative of anyadjustment required in said associated cooling fluid supply means forcooling the respective mold to its desired temperature prior to its nextarrival at said sensing station,

F. means associated with each said mold for receiving and storing theadjustment signal produced for the respective mold,

G. means at said sensing station for adjusting said cooling fluid supplymeans in accordance with the value of adjustment signals supplied tosuch adjusting means,

H. means actuated in a time relationship with the arrival of each moldat said sensing station for reading out and supplying the storedadjustment signal for the respective mold to said adjusting means forpreliminary actuation of such adjusting means without actuation of thecooling fluid supply means for the respective mold, and

. means thereafter actuated in a time relationship with the arrival ofthe respective mold at said sensing station for supplying the producedadjustment signal for such mold to said adjusting means for furtheractuation of such adjusting means and corresponding actuation of thecooling fluid supply means for the respective mold.

4. A control system in accordance with claim 3 and in which said moldidentification signals comprise a discrete binary code for each saidmold.

2. A control system In accordance with claim 1 and in which said moldidentifying means employs a discrete binary code associated with eachsaid mold.
 3. In combination with a machine for forming articles fromheated or molten material and which intermittently positions each of aplurality of article forming molds at a plurality of stations includingmaterial charging, article forming, article takeout and mold temperaturesensing stations, a mold temperature control system comprising; A.individual adjustable means associated with each said mold for supplyingcooling fluid to the respectively associated mold, B. means for sensingthe temperature of each said mold positioned at said temperature sensingstation and producing signals representative of each respective moldtemperature, C. means for producing identification signals for eachrespective mold arriving at said temperature sensing station, D. meansresponsive to said identification signals for producing preset signalsrepresentative of a desired temperature for each respective mold, E.means receiving and responsive to the sensed preset signals for eachrespective mold positioned at said temperature sensing station toproduce an adjustment signal having a value representative of anyadjustment required in said associated cooling fluid supply means forcooling the respective mold to its desired temperature prior to its nextarrival at said sensing station, F. means associated with each said moldfor receiving and storing the adjustment signal produced for therespective mold, G. means at said sensing station for adjusting saidcooling fluid supply means in accordance with the value of adjustmentsignals supplied to such adjusting means, H. means actuated in a timerelationship with the arrival of each mold at said sensing station forreading out and supplying the stored adjustment signal for therespective mold to said adjusting means for preliminary actuation ofsuch adjusting means without actuation of the cooling fluid supply meansfor the respective mold, and I. means thereafter actuated in a timerelationship with the arrival of the respective mold at said sensingstation for supplying the produced adjustment signal for such mold tosaid adjusting means for further actuation of such adjusting means andcorresponding actuation of the cooling fluid supply means for therespective mold.
 4. A control system in accordance with claim 3 and inwhich said mold identification signals comprise a discrete binary codefor each said mold.